Ramirez fuels McCollum’s playoff push

1of 4McCollum running back Mike Ramirez (24) looks for running room during the first half of their District 28-5A game with Highlands at Alamo Stadium on Oct. 22, 2015. Highlands beat McCollum 32-14.Photo: Marvin Pfeiffer /San Antonio Express-News

2of 4McCollum running back Mike Ramirez (right) stretches on the sideline while talking to teammate Joseph Casares during the first half of their game with Brackenridge at Harlandale Memorial Stadium on Oct. 16, 2015. Ramirez scored four touchdowns on the night, three rushing and one receiving, to help the Cowboys beat Brackenridge 49-38.Photo: Marvin Pfeiffer /San Antonio Express-News

3of 4McCollum quarterback Jordan Ortega (left) hands off to Mike Ramirez during the first half of their District 28-5A game with Highlands at Alamo Stadium on Oct. 22, 2015.Photo: Marvin Pfeiffer /San Antonio Express-News

4of 4McCollum running back Mike Ramirez (24) breaks through the Brackenridge defense on his way to 408 yards rushing against Edison.Photo: Marvin Pfeiffer /San Antonio Express-News

There was a brief moment Friday when it looked like someone finally was able to stop McCollum running back Mike Ramirez.

During one of Ramirez’s carries, he ended up in a slow-moving scrum of players that kept inching along and making progress. Then he felt a push from one of his lineman, heard no whistles and broke free for one of his four touchdowns.

The senior finished with 408 yards and scored the game-winning TD in a 54-48 overtime win against Edison. Ramirez’s performance cemented a signature win for the program.

The Cowboys (5-4, 5-2 District 28-5A) clinched their first playoff berth since 2011, largely behind Ramirez’s efforts this season.

“We knew Mike would have to carry the load, and boy did he ever,” McCollum coach Greg Felux said.

When Felux left Stevens after 10 years as an assistant to be McCollum’s coach, he was tasked with turning around a program that won no more than three games since the team’s last playoff appearance.

The former offensive coordinator identified Ramirez as one of the Cowboys’ key leaders. The player who rushed for 781 yards and five touchdowns last season was voted one of McCollum’s captains, a sign of what his team thought of him.

“We knew that kids would rally around him if he was able to have a successful season and, in turn, the team would as well,” Felux said.

Ramirez said he wasn’t shocked with the 28 carries he received Friday. He has been a varsity player for the past three years and shared in the team’s adversity during that time.

When he broke out of that scrum and down the field for one of his touchdowns, it was not only a key moment in the game but a span of seconds that showed the progress he and the Cowboys have made.

Ben Baby has covered high school sports for the Express-News since September 2014. The native of Grapevine, Texas, attended the University of North Texas and is a proud alumnus of the Denton Record-Chronicle.